a life in parts book review

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Tv/streaming, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, black writers week, book review: bryan cranston's memoir, "a life in parts".

After winning her first Emmy at age 41 this year for her stunning performance as prosecutor Marcia Clark in “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” Sarah Paulson said this about the benefits of being a late-bloomer in the world of showbiz: “I found a success that is so much bigger and deeper and better, and it’s because it happened later.”

Fellow actor Bryan Cranston , who finally rose to leading-man status in his early 50s as meek chemistry teacher turned ruthless drug kingpin Walter White for five seasons on AMC’s “Breaking Bad”—claiming three Emmys for his performance in the bargain—could similarly make such a claim, judging by his new memoir, A Life in Parts .  The title applies equally to the roles he has taken on in everyday life and those he has chosen to portray in what has matured into a highly fruitful career. He became a devoted husband and father in his 30s after a short failed first marriage and found stardom after paying his dues and then some with guest-starring spots on countless TV series in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

As a result, many of the chapters are about subjects beyond the pursuit of fame and fortune. One can imagine that middle child Cranston found it especially cathartic to delve into his difficult youth growing up with two dysfunctional parents. Dad Joe was a womanizer with a penchant for cooking up doomed business schemes and the type of movie actor who did B-grade thrillers opposite giant grasshoppers. Mom Peggy began to hit the bottle hard after Joe left her for another woman when Cranston was 11. While his father remained distant until they reunited years later, his mother tried to provide for her three kids, including an older son and a younger daughter, by selling items at swap meets but it wasn’t enough to keep them from losing their house to foreclosure. 

Cranston might have spent seven seasons as a hapless goof of a father figure on Fox’s hit sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle,” but he is no fool. He instinctively knows to throw his rabid “Breaking Bad” followers a quick bone by kicking off his book with a discussion of one of the show’s more shocking episodes that arrived late into the second season. That was when Walter found his business partner and ex-student, Aaron Paul ’s Jesse, passed out on heroin next to girlfriend Jane, who got him hooked on the drug and had threatened to blackmail Walter. When she begins to choke on her own vomit, Walter thinks about rolling her over but then stops and allows her to die as his character crosses the line into the next realm of evil. During filming, Cranston suddenly imagined his own daughter’s face instead of that of the actress before him and his sob-filled reaction was appropriately devastating to observe. 

But the meat of his book is how he came to realize that he was born to be an actor and the numerous rungs he had to climb before becoming a household name. I have read many a celebrity-penned autobiography. But I don’t recall anyone else having quite as many jobs, odd or otherwise, before committing to their calling as a performer. The Southern California native’s motley array of employment opportunities includes working on a chicken farm as a kid, paperboy, house painter, security guard (his account of an awkward encounter with Alfred Hitchcock at the Century Plaza Hotel is a keeper), baggage carrier for vacationers on Catalina Island, an ordained minister who officiated at wedding ceremonies, waiter, clerk at an organic food co-op, carnival barker, souvenir hawker at a ballpark and lifeguard.

An unfortunate experience involving a verbal flub in an elementary-school stage production of “ The Time Machine ” convinced him that maybe his dream of becoming an actor was not meant to be. It might surprise fans of “Breaking Bad” that Cranston instead planned on joining the LAPD after he graduated from high school and even earned an associate’s degree in police science at a junior college. Perhaps knowing both sides of the law wasn’t a bad thing when playing a meth-lab version of Scarface. But the bug began to bite again when he signed up for two electives—intro to acting and stagecraft.

The scars from Cranston’s youthful embarrassment on stage began to heal during a cross-country trip that he and his brother (who went by the names Kim and Ed, but is now called Kyle) took in their early 20s. They decided to head out on the highway on their motorcycles, camping gear in tow, for nearly a year. When rain kept them trapped in their tents, Cranston would pour through a collection of classic plays. Becoming enthralled by “Hedda Gabler” sparked an epiphany and it didn’t take long for him to find himself on stage at a Daytona, Fla., playhouse. The rest—a Mars bar commercial, being a regular on the ‘80s daytime soap “Loving,” a recurring role as dentist Tim Whatley on “Seinfeld,” his fateful run-in with “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan as a guest star on “ The X-Files ,” a Tony Award for his LBJ in the play “ All the Way ,” an Oscar nomination for “ Trumbo ”—is destiny-achieved history.

As you might guess, Cranston’s recollections aren’t filled with accounts of bedding starlets, stints in rehab or nights spent drinking champagne at the Polo Lounge. That said, between marriages, there was one dark and nasty “ Fatal Attraction ”-like sexual entanglement with a less-than-stable actress who ended up stalking him and almost drove him to violence. But this is a guy who would rather share insights about how he shaped Walter White and fought to maintain the character’s integrity. Or proudly reveal how he was able to memorize page after page of dialogue for “All the Way” in just four weeks before a Boston tryout. If you would rather read about a very human and caring star who is serious about his craft with nary a blemish in his past than the usual crash-and-burn tale, this is your book.

Bryan Cranston's "A Life in Parts" is now available. To order your copy, click here . 

Susan Wloszczyna

Susan Wloszczyna spent much of her nearly thirty years at USA TODAY as a senior entertainment reporter. Now unchained from the grind of daily journalism, she is ready to view the world of movies with fresh eyes.

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A LIFE IN PARTS

by Bryan Cranston ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 11, 2016

The highs here—and there are many—are meth-less but addictive.

The star of Breaking Bad debuts with a collection of memories and ruminations.

Cranston (b. 1956), borrowing his title and organization (sort of) from Jacques’ famous “All the world’s a stage” speech in As You Like It , offers a series of mostly short chapters that focus on the roles he’s played—in life, in film and TV, and on the stage. For a celebrity memoir, it’s unusually humble; the author makes no real mention of Golden Globe and Emmy wins, and he shows a determined effort throughout to credit and praise his co-workers. He mentions, for example, an effective gag on one of his Seinfeld appearances that came via an electrician. His narrative flows forward chronologically, broken only by abrupt shifts of focus to his various roles. His tells us about his parents—neither, especially the father, would ever qualify for a parenthood prize—and his siblings, who have been successful in their various enterprises despite, like the author, enduring a difficult childhood. (Near the end, he enters group therapy with them.) Occasionally, Cranston pauses to talk about the craft of acting, and a few of his observations sound like “takeaways” from a performance class (“Building a character is like building a house”). For the most part, the author stresses how skill and talent are fairly pointless without a lot of hard work and thought about the character and the words. He does not downplay his failures (a first marriage did not last); nor does he deny us details about his unmoored years, which included a Kerouac-ian cross-country journey with his brother. We learn as well about the perils and inconveniences of celebrity, his deep affection for his wife and daughter, and losses (parents, others). He ends with an account of his recent stage performance as Lyndon Johnson.

Pub Date: Oct. 11, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-4767-9385-6

Page Count: 368

Publisher: Scribner

Review Posted Online: Aug. 20, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2016

BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS & CELEBRITY | GENERAL BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR

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by Elie Wiesel & translated by Marion Wiesel ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 16, 2006

The author's youthfulness helps to assure the inevitable comparison with the Anne Frank diary although over and above the...

Elie Wiesel spent his early years in a small Transylvanian town as one of four children. 

He was the only one of the family to survive what Francois Maurois, in his introduction, calls the "human holocaust" of the persecution of the Jews, which began with the restrictions, the singularization of the yellow star, the enclosure within the ghetto, and went on to the mass deportations to the ovens of Auschwitz and Buchenwald. There are unforgettable and horrifying scenes here in this spare and sombre memoir of this experience of the hanging of a child, of his first farewell with his father who leaves him an inheritance of a knife and a spoon, and of his last goodbye at Buchenwald his father's corpse is already cold let alone the long months of survival under unconscionable conditions. 

Pub Date: Jan. 16, 2006

ISBN: 0374500010

Page Count: 120

Publisher: Hill & Wang

Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2006

BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | HOLOCAUST | HISTORY | GENERAL BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | GENERAL HISTORY

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by Elie Wiesel ; edited by Alan Rosen

by Elie Wiesel ; illustrated by Mark Podwal

by Elie Wiesel ; translated by Marion Wiesel

INTO THE WILD

by Jon Krakauer ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 1, 1996

A wonderful page-turner written with humility, immediacy, and great style. Nothing came cheap and easy to McCandless, nor...

The excruciating story of a young man on a quest for knowledge and experience, a search that eventually cooked his goose, told with the flair of a seasoned investigative reporter by Outside magazine contributing editor Krakauer (Eiger Dreams, 1990). 

Chris McCandless loved the road, the unadorned life, the Tolstoyan call to asceticism. After graduating college, he took off on another of his long destinationless journeys, this time cutting all contact with his family and changing his name to Alex Supertramp. He was a gent of strong opinions, and he shared them with those he met: "You must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life''; "be nomadic.'' Ultimately, in 1992, his terms got him into mortal trouble when he ran up against something—the Alaskan wild—that didn't give a hoot about Supertramp's worldview; his decomposed corpse was found 16 weeks after he entered the bush. Many people felt McCandless was just a hubris-laden jerk with a death wish (he had discarded his map before going into the wild and brought no food but a bag of rice). Krakauer thought not. Admitting an interest that bordered on obsession, he dug deep into McCandless's life. He found a willful, reckless, moody boyhood; an ugly little secret that sundered the relationship between father and son; a moral absolutism that agitated the young man's soul and drove him to extremes; but he was no more a nutcase than other pilgrims. Writing in supple, electric prose, Krakauer tries to make sense of McCandless (while scrupulously avoiding off-the-rack psychoanalysis): his risky behavior and the rites associated with it, his asceticism, his love of wide open spaces, the flights of his soul.

Pub Date: Jan. 1, 1996

ISBN: 0-679-42850-X

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Villard

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1995

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StageMilk / Book Review / Bryan Cranston | A Life in Parts

Bryan Cranston | A Life in Parts

He talks of being a young actor and having to believe in himself, because if he didn’t a director certainly wouldn’t. You have to trust your work . He also talks of relaxation , something we talk about all the time on StageMilk . Again, and again, he offers astute observations on the craft of being an actor. And for this reason alone, I would recommend reading.

Follow the well written word and it will not fail you.

Cranston’s respect for writing is immense. It was reading a Chekhov play in the midst of a six day storm where he first committed his life to acting and since then has always “followed the well written word”. This is the best, most succinct piece of advice for a career in acting I have ever heard. Simple, profound and it has served him well throughout a long and tumultuous career. Often making decisions on roles is muddied by money, accolades and much more. I think this is how we as actor’s should make decisions.

Though he has such respect for words, he speaks positively of his time on Loving , a popular soap opera early in his career. It was there, with too many lines and ridiculous shooting schedules, that he forged his acting craft. Pushing himself to be great in a context where greatness was mostly ignored.

It was there, with too many lines and ridiculous shooting schedules, that he forged his acting craft.

Another piece of advice he spoke of in the book, which is summarised in the video below, is a game changer in how you look at auditions. It’s a piece of advice that changed his career as an actor, and it’s certainly changing mine: Don’t focus on the outcome, focus on process, focus on character.  An actor’s goal in an audition is to be compelling, to bring a character to life for the length of that audition, no longer. If you are asked to play that role again, great, but if not, leave the script in the bin and don’t pick it up again. Enjoy playing that character for however long the audition lasts and then let it go.

This book is not only a great insight into acting, but also a work of great storytelling. The honest personal reflections, that initially I struggled with, come back to offer an emotional depth to the book. I was close to tears for the final chapters and reminded how closely our personal lives run concurrent to our lives as actors. How a great relationship can steady us in our careers, or a bad relationship offer insights when the role of a lifetime comes along. Too often I feel myself fighting with my personal life, and the often harsh reality of being an actor, but it is this struggle that gives richness to the work and makes you humbled when you do land roles. As Cranston says “Character is formed when we are tested, as in real life, under pressure”.

About the Author

is the founder of StageMilk. Andrew trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and is now a Sydney-based actor working in Theatre, Film and Television.

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A Life in Parts review: How Bryan Cranston was destined for Breaking Bad

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A Life in Parts

Bryan Cranston

A Life in Parts. By Bryan Cranston.

Orion, $32.99

I must be one of the few people in the Western world not to see Breaking Bad , but I know the story and Bryan Cranston's own story can be seen as a preparation for a role he seemed destined for. His parents met in acting classes: his father a B-grade actor ( The Corpse Grinders ) and a boxer, often getting into fights. They divorced; his mother and the children constantly shifting. But acting was in Cranston's blood and he charts his progress from a Mars Bar commercial to Walter White. There's grim stuff in between including a drug-addict girlfriend (in awe of her mother) threatening to have him taken out – she'd previously tried to run him over. Cranston responded, "I'll tell your mother". He writes well, and the writing seems as honest as any writing can be, especially his descriptions of the intensity of making Breaking Bad .

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Book Review: A Life in Parts, by Bryan Cranston

• Obviously a real treat for any Breaking Bad fans out there, as he talks a lot about what it was like to be on set, how that job affected his life, what the other actors were like, etc. But the book is not overwhelmed by Breaking Bad tales, and I applaud Cranston for it. 
• Cranston detailing his bizarre and dysfunctional Southern California 60s/70s childhood and then the seminal experiences in his late-teens and 20s that led him to the ultimate, and permanent revelation that he wanted to be an actor. It's inspirational for anyone who has ever struggled with their career direction.
• His tales about working on Seinfeld, an highlight and important stepping stone in his career
• In general, his stories about the various acting jobs he had to take over the years, some failed, most successful, in his slow but steady rise to widespread success
• As trite as it sounds, this book really does almost feel like you're sitting down in Cranston's living room with him, or at a bar having a beer; the "voice" and the writing are that clear and direct. 

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A Life in Parts

Bryan cranston. scribner, $27 (320p) isbn 978-1-4767-9385-6.

Reviewed on: 10/10/2016

Genre: Nonfiction

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A Life in Parts

$ 27.00

The life story of talented veteran actor Bryan Cranston begins with a despicable fictional act. Cranston internalizes his performance and his emotional placing of a character in striking ways.

Raised in California as one of three children to parents whose marriage would end tumultuously, Bryan had a nomadic childhood. His early life would see brief glimpses of his future career, in a commercial and a play. The domestic unrest would lead to his seeking shelter in movies. A possible career in police work would be sought out in college, but a road trip with his brother led to an epiphany that acting was his true calling. Cranston would find success in soap operas, and he would find his true love while acting as a co-star on an 1980s action show. His talent would shine as a comedic foil on Seinfeld , a dying redneck on The X-Files , and as a beleaguered but fun dad on Malcolm in the Middle . All would be stepping stones to the role of his career as Walter White. Could this only be the beginning?

Bryan Cranston tells his life as well as he plays any on-screen role. There are many facets to his anecdotes: humor, heart, and the occasional heart-thumping scare. His advice to actors is noteworthy. His praise for others is generous. His life is worth reading about, from the beginning to the present. Sequel, anyone?

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Bryan Cranstons 'A Life in Parts' is the best memoir I've ever read.

Let's discuss this brilliant autobiography.

The book is a very quick read, but stays with you long after you've finished it. Cranston is a fantastic storyteller. The book is broken up into the different "parts" he's played, both in his real life and on the screen/stage-- with great pictures included along the way. The man has a naturally engaging and dramatic life story, that keeps you hooked all the way through to the end, and even the short chapters are very impactful.

I feel like I was either smiling or tearing up the entire time I was reading.Most chapters summarize an important and poignant life lesson. Cranston has clearly reflected a long time on his storied life and the end result is a sublime masterpiece of writing. It makes me wish he would get into writing fiction!

What are your thoughts on it, I haven't met anyone whose read it and I'd really like to discuss it!

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About The Book

About the author.

Bryan Cranston won four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Walter White in AMC’s Breaking Bad . He holds the honor of being the first actor in a cable series, and the second lead actor in the history of the Emmy Awards, to receive three consecutive wins. In 2014 he won a Tony Award for his role as Lyndon Johnson in the bio-play All the Way . In film, Cranston received an Academy Award nomination for his leading role in Trumbo . Among his numerous television and film appearances, he was nominated for a Golden Globe and three Emmys for his portrayal of Hal in FOX’s Malcolm in the Middle . He is the author of A Life in Parts .

Product Details

• Publisher: Scribner (August 8, 2017)
• Length: 288 pages
• ISBN13: 9781476793870

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Raves and Reviews

"Boy, you think you know a guy! I worked six solid years with Bryan Cranston and figured there weren’t any secrets left between us. All those hours I spent watching him wander the desert in his underpants? That alone should make me an expert on the man. But now, along comes A Life In Parts – and suddenly I’m reading about a whole other Bryan, one who performs weddings in airplanes and camps out at mortuaries. This Bryan bathes in the blood of chickens and stuffs mackerels in air vents. He even accosts poor Alfred Hitchcock. Yes, it’s all in here. Better still, there’s an exceedingly honest discussion of his craft, which will be a godsend to struggling thespians everywhere. Think your job waiting tables sucks? One of the world’s greatest actors had it worse (what with being under suspicion for murder and all). I loved this book. It’s just the right mixture of funny, sad and heartfelt. If I’d known Bryan could tell stories this well, I would have had him writing episodes of Breaking Bad ."-- Vince Gilligan

“This splendid, moving, heartbreaking memoir is doubly triumphant. It regales and entertains while at the same time providing inspiration and practical wisdom. A truly gifted storyteller, Cranston captures the reader's imagination and emotions from beginning to end.”— Doris Kearns Goodwin

“Bryan Cranston has created a cinematic record of how an actor shapes a career and an identity and a legacy all at the same time.” – Tom Hanks

"The highs here—and there are many—are meth-less but addictive."-- Kirkus Reviews

"[A] substantial memoir from one of Hollywood’s most introspective stars...anyone interested in acting will devour Cranston’s savvy advice about honing one’s craft and building one’s career."-- Booklist

"By turns gritty,funny, and sad, this fiercely intelligent book from the Breaking Bad star defies celebrity memoir tropes."-- Entertainment Weekly

"Cranston fuses his personal and professional life in a way that’s nothing short of riveting....an engrossing first-person account by one of our finest actors."-- Huffington Post

"[A] must-read memoir."-- Philadelphia Inquirer

"A literary cup that runneth over: A candid portrait of a great actor."- -Newsday

"Deeply personal...the way in which Cranston's simple, staccato prose invites readers to empathize with every 'character' he's played elevates this autobiography to more than just a look behind the scenes--it's a look behind a life."-- Publishers Weekly

"Genial...funny...a book about ambition and persistence."-- The Washington Post

"[Cranston] traces his on- and off-screen life with witty, absorbing candor."-- Denver Post

"Superb."-- Chicago Tribune

"Brilliant...[Cranston] has a knack for describing the ordinary in a way that makes it fascinating."-- The Buffalo News

"Cranston delivers crisp stories about his onscreen performances in everything from daytime soaps to “Malcolm in the Middle” to his 2014 Tony-winning portrayal of President Lyndon B. Johnson in “All the Way.” But he also offers many chapters in which the “part” is his real-life experience as a farmhand, hypnotist, dating consultant or even a murder suspect."-- Kansas City Star

“Cranston’s memoir is an illuminating window into the actor’s psyche, as he opens up about his time as Walter White on the show and the fine line he walked playing that character—while looking into himself.”— People

Fascinating...The candor and self-introspection of this book are reminiscent of another unflinchingly honest memoir, the late Katharine Graham’s magnificent 'Personal History.'"-- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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A Life in Parts Hardcover – October 11, 2016

• Print length 288 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Scribner
• Publication date October 11, 2016
• Dimensions 6 x 1 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 1476793859
• ISBN-13 978-1476793856
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner; First Edition (October 11, 2016)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1476793859
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1476793856
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9 inches
• #183 in Television Performer Biographies
• #985 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies
• #3,543 in Memoirs (Books)

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Customers find the book delightful and easy to pick up and put down.

" An outstanding book . A life story told in parts that make the whole of a talented actor and a caring human being...." Read more

"...that I found this book to be absolutely magnificent; a truly enthralling read ...." Read more

"...This book was never difficult to follow or to continue reading. It was both entertaining and intriguing...." Read more

"Very entertaining and thoughtful read about the highs and lows, past and present of Cranston’s life...." Read more

Customers find the book insightful, inspirational, poignant, and moving. They also say the chapters are short and each one is a slice of life, making the book move along. Readers also mention that the book is full of surprises and interesting stories of his life. They say it's more of a deep dive than expected, and leaves a very positive and inspiring impression.

"...Funny, touching, heartbreaking and thought provoking , this book soothes the soul...." Read more

"...endless, extremely personal stories, but through his infinite amounts of wisdom as well...." Read more

"an extremely fine creator of men . he is above most in his profession. just ask him." Read more

"...of the path Mr. Cranston takes you down was well thought out and interesting and I really appreciated haw everything ultimately weaves itself into..." Read more

Customers find the writing quality of the book well-written, down-to-earth, and intelligent. They also say it's a fast read.

"...without a moment’s hesitation, that I found this book to be absolutely magnificent ; a truly enthralling read...." Read more

"...The method of the path Mr. Cranston takes you down was well thought out and interesting and I really appreciated haw everything ultimately weaves..." Read more

"...That being said, the book is well-written and his stories are engagingly told...." Read more

"...The book is a fast read , but you will find yourself picking it back up and rereading parts to experience them again and again...." Read more

Customers find the story wonderful, revealing, and fun to picture. They also appreciate the detailed, informative chronology and life insight.

"...I hadn’t watched Breaking Bad, but I enjoyed the stories about the creative process . It’s on my watch list." Read more

"...This is not only exhibited through his seemingly endless, extremely personal stories , but through his infinite amounts of wisdom as well...." Read more

"...As I read it, I heard his voice in my head. One of the best autobiographies ." Read more

"...That being said, the book is well-written and his stories are engagingly told ...." Read more

Customers find the humor in the book funny, moving, and insightful. They also say the author is a great actor and a very insightful writer.

"... Funny , touching, heartbreaking and thought provoking, this book soothes the soul...." Read more

"...It was both entertaining and intriguing...." Read more

"...Bryan Cranston is so great at storytelling, so intelligent in his writing and such a wonderful performer...." Read more

"...The book is honest, witty, sensitive, funny , unapologetic, and heartbreaking. And that, too, is Bryan Cranston...." Read more

Customers find the actor superb, talented, and consummate. They also say the book is necessary reading for any actor.

"...great at storytelling, so intelligent in his writing and such a wonderful performer ...." Read more

" Bryan Cranston is very normal . No drugs or alcohol to make his life interesting, however, being normal is great if you are Bryan Cranston!..." Read more

"...I'm amazed by his acting range (i.e. Hal and Walter White)...." Read more

"...I have always enjoyed Bryan Cranston's work. He is talented and a consummate actor. Who knew he was also a fantastic storyteller?..." Read more

Customers find the book honest, intelligent, and revealing autobiographies ever written. They also describe the author as humble, caring, and dedicated. Customers also love his authenticity in shows and memoir.

"...told in parts that make the whole of a talented actor and a caring human being ...." Read more

"...tell you he is on my bucket list to meet, yes the book was that raw, true and insightful...." Read more

"...The book is honest , witty, sensitive, funny, unapologetic, and heartbreaking. And that, too, is Bryan Cranston...." Read more

"This is the most honest memoir that I've ever read...." Read more

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A Life in Parts

• 4.5 • 248 Ratings

Publisher Description

A poignant, intimate, funny, inspiring memoir—both a coming-of-age story and a meditation on creativity, devotion, and craft—from Bryan Cranston, beloved and acclaimed star of one of history’s most successful TV shows, Breaking Bad. Bryan Cranston landed his first role at seven, when his father cast him in a United Way commercial. Acting was clearly the boy’s destiny, until one day his father disappeared. Destiny suddenly took a backseat to survival. Now, in his riveting memoir, Cranston maps his zigzag journey from abandoned son to beloved star by recalling the many odd parts he’s played in real life—paperboy, farmhand, security guard, dating consultant, murder suspect, dock loader, lover, husband, father. Cranston also chronicles his evolution on camera, from soap opera player trying to master the rules of show business to legendary character actor turning in classic performances as Seinfeld dentist Tim Whatley, “a sadist with newer magazines,” and Malcolm in the Middle dad Hal Wilkerson, a lovable bumbler in tighty-whities. He also gives an inspiring account of how he prepared, physically and mentally, for the challenging role of President Lyndon Johnson, a tour de force that won him a Tony to go along with his four Emmys. Of course, Cranston dives deep into the grittiest details of his greatest role, explaining how he searched inward for the personal darkness that would help him create one of the most memorable performances ever captured on screen: Walter White, chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin. Discussing his life as few men do, describing his art as few actors can, Cranston has much to say about creativity, devotion, and craft, as well as innate talent and its challenges and benefits and proper maintenance. But ultimately A Life in Parts is a story about the joy, the necessity, and the transformative power of simple hard work.

APPLE BOOKS REVIEW

In this frank, absorbing memoir, Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston reflects on his life's many unexpected plot twists, from an impoverished childhood to an epic cross-country motorcycle trip and the life-altering realization that he might be a really good actor. Inspiring and insightful, A Life in Parts is an indelible record of Cranston's remarkable career and a case study for aspiring artists of all kinds—not to mention a hugely entertaining read. 

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY OCT 10, 2016

Though known today for Breaking Bad, Cranston played a number of roles before becoming an actor. Paperboy, biker, grocery store security guard each chapter explores a different facet of Cranston's personal history, as though Cranston were teaching another actor how to play him onstage. Deeply personal from the outset, Cranston walks readers through his early aimless years, his moment of Zen inspiration to be an actor, and the obsessive hard work on the soap opera Loving, during which he was also dealing with the fallout from an abusive relationship. Cranston discusses his later success on Malcolm in the Middle; Breaking Bad fans, of course, will fly straight to Cranston's chapters on script changes made behind the scenes and the reasoning behind Walt's underwear choices. But the way in which Cranston's simple, staccato prose invites readers to empathize with every "character" he's played elevates this autobiography to more than just a look behind the scenes it's a look behind a life.

Customer Reviews

Read in one breath.

Such a wonderful life story and so well written

A life in parts

Enjoyable book, authentic dude, guess I should watch breaking bad.

Thank you Bryan

Inspired beyond belief after reading this.

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A Life in Parts

$ 27.00

The life story of talented veteran actor Bryan Cranston begins with a despicable fictional act. Cranston internalizes his performance and his emotional placing of a character in striking ways.

Raised in California as one of three children to parents whose marriage would end tumultuously, Bryan had a nomadic childhood. His early life would see brief glimpses of his future career, in a commercial and a play. The domestic unrest would lead to his seeking shelter in movies. A possible career in police work would be sought out in college, but a road trip with his brother led to an epiphany that acting was his true calling. Cranston would find success in soap operas, and he would find his true love while acting as a co-star on an 1980s action show. His talent would shine as a comedic foil on Seinfeld , a dying redneck on The X-Files , and as a beleaguered but fun dad on Malcolm in the Middle . All would be stepping stones to the role of his career as Walter White. Could this only be the beginning?

Bryan Cranston tells his life as well as he plays any on-screen role. There are many facets to his anecdotes: humor, heart, and the occasional heart-thumping scare. His advice to actors is noteworthy. His praise for others is generous. His life is worth reading about, from the beginning to the present. Sequel, anyone?

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A life in parts (hardcover).

Description

About the author, praise for….

• Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs
• Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts
• Performing Arts / Television
• Kobo eBook (October 10th, 2016): $4.99
• Paperback (August 8th, 2017): $17.99
• CD-Audio (October 11th, 2016): $29.99

An online Beatles fan club for and about Beatle fans

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Thursday, January 24, 2013

A life in parts: a book review.

"Loretta has such a positive attitude.  I'm proud of how she handled all the obstacles she had to overcome and the way she reaches out to help others."

4 comments:

I agree, it's time to move on. Both Paul and Heather are happy with their lives today and they share a little girl. I don't hate Heather, ever. She did and does have good qualities. I thought she did help Paul to move on after Linda's death- Paul has said so a bunch of times.

very good article

read this today and found it encouraging

What is Project 2025? The Presidential Transition Project explained.

The detailed plan to dismantle and reconstruct the government laid out by  conservative groups  known as the 2025 Presidential Transition Project has critics up in arms over its " apocalyptic " and " authoritarian " nature.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C., led an effort to create the more than 900-page  "Mandate for Leadership,"  published in April 2023, reimagining the executive branch and presented a plan to overhaul several federal government agencies, including the FBI, for the country's next conservative president to follow.

More: Project 2025 head says 'second American Revolution' will be 'bloodless if the left allows'

According to the Project's website, the playbook provides a governing agenda and a lineup of people ready to implement it to "rescue the country from the grip of the radical Left." It includes a domestic and  foreign policy  agenda, a list of personnel, training, and a 180-day playbook.

"It is not enough for conservatives to win elections," Project 2025  said on its website . "With the right conservative policy recommendations and properly vetted and trained personnel to implement them, we will take back our government."

Project 2025's Director is  Paul Dans , who served as the U.S. Office of Personnel Management chief of staff in former President Donald Trump's administration. Although it mentions Trump by name, the handbook does not directly assume the Republican party's presumptive nominee will be the one to carry out its agenda.

What is in Project 2025?

The mandate attacks several policies that former President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden instituted, including  student loan forgiveness  and  Obamacare . It simultaneously calls for expanded executive power for the commander-in-chief while criticizing what Project 2025 members perceive as overreaches by the Biden administration.

"Presidents should not issue mask or vaccine mandates, arbitrarily transfer student loan debt, or issue monarchical mandates of any sort," the plan reads. "Legislatures make the laws in a republic, not executives."

The playbook calls for the reinstatement of a  Trump executive order  augmenting a president's power to hire and fire federal officials by replacing civil servants with political appointees throughout government.

It also seeks to repeal aspects of the  Affordable Care Act , urge the Food and Drug Administration to reverse the  approval of abortion pills , and further empower Immigration and Customs Enforcement to  deport undocumented immigrants .

The plan also specifically addresses LGBTQ+ issues and attacks "radical gender ideology." In addition to calling for an end to the Department of Education, it suggests legislation that would forbid educators from using transgender students' names or pronouns without written permission from their guardians. It also appears to oppose same-sex marriage and gay couples adopting children by seeking to "maintain a biblically based, social science-reinforced definition of marriage and family."

Project 2025 generates concern

Project 2025 has received substantial criticism from Democrats, including  Representative Jasmine Crockett , D-Texas, who called out the controversial plan during a congressional hearing last month.

"I don't know why or how anybody can support Project 2025," Crockett said. "In the United States of America, dictatorships are never funny, and Project 2025 is giving the playbook for authoritarianism as well as the next dictator to come in."

Progressive Democrat U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts called it a "far-right manifesto" in a  post on TikTok . The Biden campaign captioned a video detailing Project 2025, stating it "needs more attention."

Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @rachelbarber_